Cops have raided Tory Lord Leon ­Brittan’s homes over alleged child abuse – just SIX weeks after he died.

Detectives swooped on the former Home Secretary’s properties in London and North Yorkshire, the Sunday Mirror and news investigators Exaro can reveal

And in a dramatic development officers from Operation Midland – set up to ­investigate historic claims of child abuse by a group of powerful men – also searched the home of 91-year-old D-Day veteran Lord Bramall, once Britain’s highest-ranking Army officer.

But Lord Brittan’s name was only made public after he died of cancer in January, aged 75. After his death, many of his prominent Tory colleagues paid tribute to him and defended him over allegations of abuse.

Nick was asked how he knew the man present was the former Home Secretary and replied: “Well, he told me. Not his full name. He told me that it was Leon.”

But former Tory leader Michael Howard said: “I think it is a tragedy that his last days were dogged by these quite unsubstantiated allegations.”

And another ex-Cabinet minister John Gummer, now Lord Deben, said claims were “wicked”.

Lord Brittan had always denied any allegations of wrongdoing, but Nick stands by his testimony.

Police are also examining claims based on Nick’s evidence that Lord Brittan was present when two unidentified men murdered a boy in a physical beating following sexual abuse around 1981 or 1982.

Det Supt Kenny McDonald, who is overseeing Operation Midland, said officers who had spoken to Nick thought his account was “credible”.

Under suspicion: Operation Midland witness 'Nick' named Brittan as being present at sex parties

During a press conference in December, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse said police were examining whether children were abused at a number of locations, including the South East and London.

Operation Midland was set up to look at claims boys were abused by senior figures in the 70s and 80s.

But last year it was confirmed the operation had become a homicide investigation exploring links between abuse and the alleged deaths of three boys.

Until the raids were carried out this week Operation Midland had focused on ­properties in London including apartments at Dolphin Square, Pimlico, where child sex parties are said to have taken place.

Last June, it emerged Lord Brittan had been interviewed in connection with rape allegations involving a 19-year-old student at his London flat in 1967.

In a statement he said: “This allegation is wholly without foundation”.

In 1984, he was handed a dossier by campaigning MP Geoffrey Dickens.

It was said to contain allegations of an ­Establishment paedophile ring operating in Westminster in the 1980s.